Buckle



May 25 1926.

E. B. STIMPSON BUCKLE Original Filed Jar 1 12, 1920 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented May 25, 1926.

UNITED STATES arser orrics.

EDWIN BALL STIMPS ON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

BUCKLE.

Application filed January 12, 1920, Serial No. 350,793. Renewed October 23, 1925.

My invention relates generally to buckles and particularlyto buckles of the slide bar type. 7

Slide bar buckles are ordinarily provided with a row of strap-engaging teeth projecting from across bar mounted to slide along the side frame members of the main buckle fran'iework. The cross or slide bar in some cases consists of a skeleton rectangular framework having a single row of teeth mounted along the forward edge of the rearmost cross bar and at such an inclination as to engage and press an interposed strap against the forward cross bar of the main buckle framework. In order to util ize the tension exerted by the strap to pull the teeth into operative engagement therewith, the forward cross bar of the sliding framework has usually been provided with a single projecting edge carried beneath the forward cross bar of the main framework in position to be engaged by the strap to there by cause the sliding framework as a whole to be pulled forward by the pressure exerted against the projecting edge. Buckles of the type described havebeen open to the objection that they would hold or grip well except with soft and loosely woven material. The main object of my invention is to provide an improved buckle of the slide bar type that will be free fronrthe objection referred to so that it will be capable of being used with a much wider range of materials than is possible, with the buckles now known and used. f

\Vith this and other objectsin view, one feature of the invention consists in the provision of a buckle,having double row of teeth on the slide bar so placed with relation to each other and the forward bar of the main framework that the forward bar operates to force the engaged portion of the strap between the two rows of teeth with a wedging action.

Another feature of the invention consists in the provlslon of a row of teeth on the forward member of'the slide bar by means arrow A. s

Figure 3 is a view'similar to Figure 1 and showing the parts in strap gripping posi- Figure a is a perspective and partly secltional view of the device shown in Figure 1.

In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings there 1S illustrated a buckle having, in this instance, a substantially rectangular frame- ,work 1 that may be formed of wire bent to shape, or, cast in an endless, integral piece as desires. I What will be hereinafter designated as the rear cross bar 2 of the frame work, is adapted tov be permanently at- Figure 1 taken in the direction of the tached to a strap loop 3 formed'of canvas.

Mounted on the buckle framework 1 is a toothed strap gripping, member 5 havingbent-over or looped side portions 6 arranged to. encircle and freely slideon the side bars 7 and 8 of the main framework. The strap gripping device 5 will be seen'to consist of a rearmember?) and a forward member 10 separated from each other by a gap through which the strap a can be passed,and having connecting members 11. In order to insure that the rear member 9 of the gripping device 5 will securely engage the strap a when moved forwar'dintothe position shown "in F gure 3, I have provided the member 9 with two dlstlnctgand separate rows of--up- "l' 1' it tl 1 -l3 l u may 1AC1116 ee 1 c ant 1 wiuci are formed along the edges of the substantially Ushaped or recessed rear member 9, it will be seen that the two rows of teeth 1:2

and 18 are separated from each other by a distance substantially equal to the diameter ,ofthe forward cross bar 14L of the main framework, so that the rounded opposing surface ofthe bar it acts to wedge the en gaged portion of the strap t into the space between the rows of teeth and to form a distinct and comparatively sharp deflection 15 in the strap which materially assists in preventing the strap from slipping through the buckle. In addition to this, the strap is strongly wedged between each respective row of teeth and the corresponding opposed curved surface of the bar 1% so that an extremely effective clamping or gripping action is exerted on the interposed strap. It will also be noted that pressure exerted on either row of teeth by the cross bar 14 and tending to move the teeth laterally away from strap gripping position is balanced by a corresponding pressure which isbeing at the same time exerted on the row of teeth in a contrary direction, so that the relative position of the two rows of teeth serves to cause them to reinforce each other in their gripping action.

Another function secured by placing the row of teeth in position to co-opcrate with the lower portion of the opposing bar 14 is in the deflection of the strap by the teeth 13 into engagement with the projecting edge 16 of the member 10, against which the tension of the strap is exerted to draw the gripping member 5 into operative position. This insures such a firm engagement of the strap against the edge 16 that any tendency that the strap may have to slip across the edge and, for that reason, fail to pull the gripping member into effective gripping position is effectually eliminated.

In order to still further increase the holding action of the buckle, in addition to the projecting edge 16, I preferably provide tac forward slide member 10 with a row of teeth 17 whose position with relation to the edge 16 is such that the strap bears against the teeth at points spaced somewhat forward of the portion engaged by the projecting edge 16. As is indicated in Figure 8 of the drawing, the effect of this is to cause the teeth to form the turning point about which the strap is bent upwardly from its normal position into the buckle, and it will be seen that the holding action of the teeth 17 is of necessity very effective.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that a buckle has been produced that will securely hold even the most unyielding and inflexible straps, and that this is brou ht about, not only by the provision of a greater number of toothed strap gripping members than have been heretofore used, but also in the particular relative arrangement whereby the various strap engaging parts co-operate with each other to produce a combined and unitary effect that is much superior to the mere sum total of the functions produced by the parts acting individually.

What is claimed is 1. A buckle comprising a framework including a bar, a member slidably mounted on said framework and having a part thereof provided with two rows of teeth the rows beingsepa-rated by a recess into which a strap can be wedged by saidbar to exert a gripping action on the strap,-said member also having a strap-engaging part separated from said recess to form a space through whicn the strap may be passed, said strap cngaging part having an edge adapted to have tension exerted thereagainst by the strap. to. pull the slidable member into strap gripping-position, andsaid strap-engaging part being also. provided with teeth spaced from said edge to effect asupplemental holding action: on the strap,

2. A buckle comprising a framework including a bar, a member slidably mounted on said framework and having a part thereof provided with a recess into which a strap can be wedged by said bar to exert a gripping action on the st 'ap,; said member also having a strap-engaging part separated from said recessed part to form a space through which the strap may be passed, said strap-engaging part having an edge arranged to have tension exerted thereagainstby the strap, to pull the slidable member into strap-gripping position, and said strap-engaging part being also provided with a row of teeth spaced from said edge to effect a supplemental holding action on the strap.

Signed at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, this 12 day of Dec, 1919.

EDWIN BALL STIMPSON. 

